Boston Latin School

The Boston Latin School is a public exam school in Boston, Massachusetts. Established on April 23, 1635, it is the oldest and first public school in the United States. The Public Latin School was a bastion for educating the sons of the Boston "Brahmin" elite, resulting in the school claiming many prominent Bostonians, Massachusetts citizens and New Englanders as alumni. Its curriculum follows that of the 18th century Latin-school movement, which holds the "classics" to be the basis of an educated mind. Four years of Latin are mandatory for all pupils who enter the School in the 7th grade, three years for those who enter in the 9th. In 2007, the school was named one of the top twenty high schools in the United States by U.S. News & World Report magazine. It is a part of Boston Public Schools (BPS).